Election Live: Delays mean results won’t start before midday

Counting for the General Election across Warwick and Leamington and Kenilworth and Southam is delayed after the council failed to complete checks overnight.

Polls closed at 10pm last night, when verification processes to ensure the right number of votes were cast as counted were not completed as planned.

The count is expected to start by midday, with results announced by 3pm - putting the two constituencies among the very last to be announced.

Acting Returning Officer, Chris Elliot said it is essential the checks are carried out to ensure fairness, and with so many counts to be made over the next two days, the job was simply too great to be completed before this morning.

He also predicted “very high” turnout across both constituencies with both former Conservative MPs Chris White and Jeremy Wright predicted to hold their seats amid widespread Tory gains overnight.

But he said a previously expected recount for Warwick and Leamington is looking less likely, meaning the count could go more quickly than predicted.

“The voting process is subject to these checks to ensure fairness, and with two general elections, district and local to count, we have a big job to ensure this is done properly,” he said.

“We usually see a higher turnout than the average national figures, and expect no different this year as indications are that we had very high numbers of people voting.

“The turnout will be known when the verification process is complete.

“Given the results overnight, we are expecting Conservative wins and a recount is now looking unlikely, so that should make the whole process quicker and easier, but of course, we will have to see.”

Warwick District Council staff will complete the count at Stoneleigh Park from around midday,